Printing device.



T. S. FOX.

PRINTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.2a, IQII.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

1L C NM THE COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

entre srafras THOMAS S. vFOX. 0F BROOKLYN. NEW YORK.

PRINTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

' Patenten Mar. v, 1916.

Application ledrDecember 28, 1911. Serial No. 6678,310. f

To all whom may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS S. FOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the county yof Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

My invention relatesV to improvements in rollers such as are used by artists in rubbing down printing films, and has particular reference tothe structure of such tools. Tools of this character are usually of two sizes, the larger size having a roller of about one and one-half inches in diameter and the smaller size having a roller ofabout threefourths of an inch in diameter. yThese rollers are substantially flat faced, are generally made of solid rubber except for a small core, and are mounted so as to revolve at the end of a handle. In using the tool the operator runs it over the back of the inked film by hand and the lines or other characters of the inked film are transferred to a plate or other surface by the hand pressure applied to the tool. The larger roller is used where considerable space is to be printed upon and the smaller roller is used for smaller areas. For the other parts and detail work a stump o-r a stylus is generally used.

'When a good taut film is used for laying down thick lines, such as what is known in the trade as number 9, or nearly a half tint, it has been frequently observed that a speckled or mottled effect is produced in the printing when the rubbing down is done by the rollers heretofore used, thus making it necessary to go over the work with a stylus or other tool. That is to say, spaces or blotches appear in the printing, and if a line film is used, the lines will be found broken by these blank spots. Ihave found that by using ka roller of much smaller diameter a thinner line of pressure more evenly distributed can be applied and these defects will be overcome, particularly if the roller is provided with a conveX'face. All details of the characters of the film will then print quite clearly. I have also found it preferable to use a lroller having a comparatively thin surface or covering of yielding or resilient materiale Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 illustrates in perspective view one form of my improved roller tool. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of my improved rollers, Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the bearing pin which may be used for mounting theroller within the handle 0r bearing of the roller tool, and Fig. Ll is an enlarged longitudinal section of another of my improved rollers.

The handle 5 terminates in a suitable yoke bearing 6 within which upon a suitable axis, the roller of the tool is mounted as shown. The roller shown in Fig. 1 which is illustrated to better advantage `in longitudinal section in Fig. 2, comprises a metallic body portion preferably of brass indicated by the reference character 9 provided with a convex surface as shown. While this surface is shown curved in cross section it will be readily understood that a curve need not be strictly followed. f

10 is a yielding or resilient covering such as a piece of rubber tube which is cutof equal length to the brass bodyk 9 and may be slipped over the same. The roller is bored at 11 to provide passage for the pin 12, and this pin it will be observed has an enlarged shank at 13 and is provided with a finger lever 14.

In assembling the tool, the roller is placed between the prongs of the yoke bearing 6 vwhich are bored to admit the pin 12. This pin is then inserted through the bored holes in the ends of the prongs and through the center of the roller, and is given a twist by the finger piece 111, the enlarged shank 13 binding within one of the holes or bearings, securely holding the roller in rotatable position.

15 represents a lead plug which may be inserted into the yoke of the tool in any suitable mann-er to add weight or pressure to the roller. This weight is sho-wn of smaller proportion for the purpose of clearness.

. It will be readily understood of course that instead of using a separate weight such as 15, the bearing of the tool may be made differently and Vof heavier material, or it may be made larger to give the same result. By using a weighted tool the pressure on the roller will be more uniform throughout each stroke than when the roller is pressed upon the film bythe operator.

Of course it will be understood that the roller may be mounted in any suitablemanner, and various forms of mountingsiand handles may be used, and various means may be employed for operating the tool.

The ro-ller shown in Fig. 4C is nct provided with a convex face and is much wider than the rollers shown in Figs. l and 2. It also shows a solid core provided With centers for suitable bearings. Such rollers give excellent results.

Some films novv upon the market are soft and flabby and have a tendency toloosen and sag in Warm Weather and with films in this crndition it is possible to get along With the usual larger rubber rollers but in the cold Weather when these films draw up and harden the objectionable effect referred to will be encountered. Even when these soft and flabby films have become hardened and drawn in the cold Weather very good results can be obtained by using tools pro-vided with rollers such as I have described. The small diameter of the roller enables pressure to be applied along a sharp line of direct Contact. The yielding surface is not deep enough to spread sufiiciently to destroy this effect and the difference of pressure between the ends and the center of the roller may be compensated for by the enlarged center forming the convex surface of the roller.

0f course relative proportions of parts might be varied to advantage underl different conditions but for general purposes a roller nrt exceeding a maximum of diameter of about five-sixteenths of an inch Will be found to give very good results. Various other modifications may also be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim: f

l. A tool for transferring characters from a printing film having a handle and a roller holder, and a roller Within said holder of small diameter adapted to impart a sharp line ofV contact during the application of said tool'ivhereby the details of said characters may be sharply transferred Without v smudging and Without transferring adjacent characters from said film.

2. A tool for transferring characters from a printing film having a handle and a roller holder, and a roller Within said holder of small diameter adapted tovimpart a sharp line of Contact during the applicatie-n of said tool whereby the details of said characters may be sharply transferred Without smudging and Without transferring adjacent characters from said film, and in combination therewith a Weight attached to said tool.

3. A tool for transferring characters from a printing film having a handle and a roller holder, and a roller Within said holder of small diameter adapted to impart a sharp line of contact during the application of said toel whereby the details of said characters may be sharply transferred Without smudging and without transferring adjacent characters from said film, and a remov able spindle adapted to support said roller ivithin said holder having frictional engaging means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses.

THOMAS S. FOX.

W'itnesses:

LOUISE ENDERLE, AUG P. JURGENSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

